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Nancy Pelosi slammed for joking at event on day soldiers killed in Kabul blast

The California Democrat joined San Francisco Mayor London Breed, elected officials, and community leaders Thursday to celebrate Women's Equality Day

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joked for nearly six minutes at a Women's Equality Day event and made no mention of the 13 US servicemen who died in the deadly suicide bombings in Afghanistan on Thursday, August 26. 

The California Democrat joined San Francisco Mayor London Breed, elected officials, and community leaders on Thursday to mark the event, touting President Biden's spending agenda and voting legislation passed by the House earlier this week. When asked to comment on the blasts, she directed reporters to a paper statement released by her office earlier in the day. We previously reported that US troops could be leaving Afghanistan days before its August 31 deadline, effectively abandoning American citizens and allies in Afghanistan. 

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“This is all about empowering women so that their families are cared for, that their children are cared for, so that we can have women in the workplace making the difference,” Pelosi said, before declaring, “When women succeed, America succeeds.”

CBS News congressional reporter Zak Hudak said the speaker declined to comment on camera about the suicide attacks following the event, telling reporters, "I put out a statement."

Pelosi was blasted on social media for saying "not one word" about what happened in Kabul. "Why is that surprising? She was sipping Chardonnay in Napa the day Kabul fell after Biden’s unconditional surrender," a Twitter user wrote.

"She's a real class act," another sarcastically added. "I guess the Democrats' plan is to "ignore" what happened....and US citizens will just go along with it."

"Not one word. These are sick and twisted people, and they are in charge of our foreign policy and law-making. Wake up people," a comment read.

"She’s just an awful awful person. The sooner she’s gone the better. 2022 midterms can’t get here soon enough," one lamented.

"Fake fake fake it's sickening. She's all about herself, power, and money," another ranted. "She doesn't care about those soldiers that were killed and acts like she doesn't know it. Why is she wearing a mask here when she and her guests at the Napa Valley 3,000 a plate fundraiser didn't?"

In her statement, Pelosi said the House “strongly condemns the heinous terrorist attack outside Kabul airport. We mourn the loss of every innocent life taken, and we join every American in heartbreak over the deaths of the servicemembers killed.”

“Since the end of July, over 100,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan with the assistance of the U.S. military and allied forces,” Pelosi continued. “As we continue this process, Congress, on a bipartisan basis, remains deeply concerned about the security and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. As we work with the Biden Administration to bring stability to the situation, Congress must continue to be kept closely informed, which is why I have requested that the Executive Branch continues to brief Members. At the same time, our Committees of Jurisdiction will continue to hold briefings on Afghanistan."

“As we pray for the lives lost, the many injured and their families, Congress and the Country are grateful to our military, diplomatic and intelligence communities for their courage and patriotism,” the statement concluded.

House Republicans led by Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) have demanded that Pelosi call members of Congress back to Washington before the end of this month. The Taliban has given the Biden administration an August 31 deadline to withdraw US troops and citizens from Afghanistan. 

“Speaker Pelosi must bring Congress back before Aug 31 so we can be briefed thoroughly by the Administration and prohibit the withdrawal of our troops until every American is safely out,” McCarthy tweeted after news broke of the suicide bombings that claimed several American lives.

It's worth noting that the House is currently not scheduled to resume session until September 20. However, next week has been set aside for committee work, the New York Post reported.